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Kuwait national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Kuwait women's national football team.
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Kuwait
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Al-Azraq (The Blue)
Al-Mouj Al-Azraq (The Blue Wave)
Association Kuwait Football Association
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation WAFF (West Asia)
Head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi
Captain Fahad Al Hajeri
Most caps Bader Al-Mutawa (196)
Top scorer Bashar Abdullah (75)
Home stadium Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
FIFA code KUW
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 158 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 24 (December 1998)
Lowest 189 (December 2017)
Elo ranking
Current 97 Steady (3 March 2019)
Highest 28 (September 1980)
Lowest 136 (April 1966)
First international
 Kuwait 2–2 Libya 
(Morocco; 3 September 1961)
Biggest win
 Kuwait 20–0 Bhutan 
(Kuwait City, Kuwait; 14 February 2000)
Biggest defeat
 United Arab Republic 8–0 Kuwait 
(Morocco; 4 September 1961)
 Portugal 8–0 Kuwait 
(Leiria, Portugal; 19 November 2003)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 1982)
Best result Group stage (1982)
Asian Cup
Appearances 11 (first in 1972)
Best result Champions (1980)
Arab Cup
Appearances 8 (first in 1963)
Best result Third place (1964, 1992, 1998)
Arabian Gulf Cup
Appearances 25 (first in 1970)
Best result Champions (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2010)

The Kuwait national football team (Arabic: منتخب الكويت لكرة القدم) represents Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. Kuwait made its only FIFA World Cup appearance in 1982, managing one point in the group stage. In the Asian Cup, Kuwait reached the final round in 1976 and won the tournament in 1980.

Kuwait's 20–0 win over Bhutan in 2000 was, at the time, the biggest-ever margin of victory in international football. It was surpassed in 2001, when Australia defeated American Samoa 31–0.

While Kuwait was one of Asia's major footballing forces from the 1970s to the 2000s, the strength of the national team started to fade slowly from the 2010s, with Kuwait losing in two consecutive Asian Cups in 2011 and 2015, before being disqualified for the 2019 edition and missing out on the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. The team has also failed to reach any World Cup since 1982.

History

Early successes

Kuwait's first international match was played in the 1961 Arab Games against Libya, which ended in a 2–2 draw. Their biggest loss was against the United Arab Republic, when they lost 8–0 in the same tournament. Kuwait hosted the 1974 Gulf Cup at Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, collecting their third consecutive title in the cup. They won the Asian Cup in 1980. Kuwait's national football team joined the World Cup in 1982, which was held in Spain. Kuwait was placed in the fourth group and got fourth place after losses to England and France and a draw with Czechoslovakia. Kuwait's highest ever FIFA ranking was 24th place, achieved in December 1998. Bader Al-Mutawa is the most capped player of the Kuwaiti team, and Bashar Abdullah is the top goalscorer in the history of the Kuwait national football team. Kuwait has won the Arabian Gulf Cup ten times, and is the most successful team in winning that competition. Kuwait's most successful manager was Luiz Felipe Scolari, who won the World Cup with Brazil, and was forced to leave the country after the 1990 invasion by Iraq. He led Kuwait to win the 1990 Gulf Cup, beating Qatar in the final.

Kuwait's biggest win was against Bhutan, which ended in a 20–0 win, which was the biggest margin of victory in international football until Australia won 31–0 against American Samoa in 2001. Kuwait's most successful years were between 1970 and 1990, which had impressive players like Jasem Yaqoub, Faisal Al-Dakhil, and Saad Al-Houti play for the team.

Impact of the Iraqi Invasion on the Kuwaiti National Football Team

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 had a profound and devastating impact on the Kuwaiti national football team. During the occupation, sports activities were severely disrupted as many athletes, including football players, were displaced or went into exile. The Kuwait Football Association's headquarters and facilities were damaged, leading to the suspension of all football competitions in the country. Consequently, the national team was unable to participate in the 1990 Asian Games and the 1992 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. This disruption hindered the development of football in Kuwait, as resources were diverted to rebuilding the nation.

Kuwait's football league, the Kuwaiti Premier League, was also suspended, causing a significant loss of competitive match experience for players. Many training facilities and stadiums were damaged or repurposed for military use during the invasion, which further hampered the team's preparations and development. Additionally, financial constraints post-invasion led to reduced funding for sports, affecting the quality of training and support available to athletes.

Despite these challenges, the team made a notable comeback in subsequent years. In 1994, Kuwait won the Arabian Gulf Cup, showcasing their resilience and ability to recover from the invasion's setbacks. The national team also qualified for the 1996 AFC Asian Cup, advancing to the quarter-finals, which was a significant achievement given the circumstances. The invasion's long-term effects were felt across the sporting community, highlighting the resilience and determination of Kuwaiti athletes and officials in rebuilding their footballing legacy post-occupation.

Suspensions

On 30 October 2007, Kuwait was suspended by FIFA from all participation in international football, on the grounds of governmental interference in the national football association. The ban lasted less than 2 weeks. On 24 October 2008, Kuwait was again suspended by FIFA from all participation in international football, because it failed to hold the General Assembly elections by mid-October. FIFA provisionally lifted its suspension on the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) on 22 December 2008.

Once again, on 16 October 2015, Kuwait was suspended for the third time as FIFA did not recognize the new sports law in the country. Kuwait tried to get the suspension lifted at the 66th FIFA Congress but was rejected. Therefore, from the earlier announcement on 27 April 2016, the hosting of the Gulf Cup tournament would also be moved to Qatar. The suspension was eventually lifted on 6 December 2017, after Kuwait adopted a new sports law. By this time, the team had fallen from 139th place to 189th place in the FIFA World Rankings due to its inactivity, which also caused the team to miss the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

On 7 December 2017, it was announced that Kuwait would host the 2017 Gulf Cup tournament after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain had all withdrawn. The tournament was previously set to be hosted by Qatar but, because of the Qatari diplomatic crisis, it was moved to Kuwait and the withdrawn nations joined again.

Revival

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Kuwait, which only started to rebuild its team following years of suspensions and instabilities, was drawn in Group B alongside Australia, Jordan, Nepal, and Chinese Taipei. Evidently, Kuwait was quite impacted by its suspensions and instabilities as the team lost 0–3 twice. Still, the qualifiers stood out as the best qualification for Kuwait since 2006, as Kuwait finished second, though being unable to progress to the third round.

In June 2022, Kuwait became the host for the third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Kuwait failed to qualify, as they lost to Indonesia and Jordan.

In June 2023, Kuwait was invited as a guest team in the 2023 SAFF Championship, where it finished as runner-up, losing to India during a penalty shootout in the final.

In June 2024, Kuwait qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, after 9 years of not qualifying, and advanced into the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifications.

2026 World Cup Qualifying

The Kuwait Football Association board resigned after chaotic scenes at a World Cup qualifier against Iraq on September 17, 2024, where fans suffered in extreme heat and some ticket holders were denied entry. The FA launched an inquiry and has since accepted the resignations of several key officials. The match ended in a goalless draw, leaving Kuwait in fourth place in their World Cup qualifying group.

Team image

Kit and emblem

The Kuwait national football team is recognized for its distinctive blue kits when playing at home, symbolizing the nation's maritime heritage and the blue of the Arabian Gulf. The team's emblem features a falcon, a national symbol of Kuwait. Adidas has acted as Kuwait's official kit provider since 2023.

Period Kit Provider
1980–1991 Germany Puma
1992–1997 Thailand Grand Sport
1997–2001 Spain Kelme
2001–2002 United Kingdom Umbro
2003–2008 Germany Saller
2009–2011 Switzerland Burrda
2012–2013 Italy Kappa
2014–2015 Germany Uhlsport
2017–2022 Italy Erreà
2023– Germany Adidas

Stadium

Kazmastadium
Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium

The Kuwait national football team primarily play home games at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium. Before the completion of Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in 2009, Kuwait played home games in Mohammed Al-Hamed Stadium. The team have also occasionally hosted games at Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium and Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah Stadium, the home stadiums of Kazma SC and Al-Nasr SC respectively.

Media coverage

Kuwait matches are broadcast on three channels: with full commentary on Kuwait TV Sport, beIN Sports, and Dubai Sports in the case of special events like the Gulf Cup or Asian Cup.

Rivalries

Kuwait vs. Iraq
Statistics vs.  Iraq
Played1 Wins2 Draws Losses GF GA
35 8 9 17 34 48

1. Only matches recognized by FIFA.
2. Wins for Kuwait.

Iraq's rivalry with Kuwait was once considered as the Arab world's greatest football rivalry of all-time. The rivalry began in the mid 1970s and it was the decade from 1976 until 1986 that saw the golden age of football for arguably the finest teams the region has produced. Both nations imposed their domination on the Gulf region, and from the Gulf Cup's inception in 1970 until 1990, the tournament was won by only two teams; Kuwait seven times (1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990), and despite Iraq's absence in the first three editions and withdrawal in two others, Iraq won it three times (1979, 1984, 1988).

Iraq and Kuwait took their increasingly bitter rivalry to a new level. On 11 June 1976, the two met in the semi-final of the Asian Cup in Tehran; Kuwait took the lead twice, Iraq came roaring back twice, And then, in the 10th minute of extra time, Kamel scored the winner for Kuwait. In 1979, the year Iraq clinched their first Gulf Cup and won over Kuwait 3–1, the two met in a qualifier for the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, both managed to qualify for the Olympic Games, and both made it to the quarter-finals in Moscow. Iraq also qualified for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and 1988 Games in Seoul. The 1982 Asian Games was won as well. Kuwait won the 1980 AFC Asian Cup, which they hosted. The nations also left their mark on the world stage. Kuwait qualified for the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain. Iraq matched that in Mexico 1986.

As Iraq and Kuwait traded Gulf titles in 1988 and 1990, few could have imagined that their rivalry on the football field would be replaced by an altogether more catastrophic one on the battlefield. Because of the Gulf War, Iraq and Kuwait were in complete avoidance and never met for more than a decade. Kuwait's Blues had a relative recovery, winning the Gulf Cup in 1996 and 1998, before securing their record 10th title in 2010. Iraq won the 2007 Asian Cup.

Kuwait vs. Saudi Arabia
Statistics vs.  Saudi Arabia
Played1 Wins2 Draws Losses GF GA
42 15 13 15 44 44

1. Only matches recognized by FIFA.
2. Wins for Kuwait.

The football rivalry between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia is one of the most storied in the Gulf region, steeped in decades of competition and regional pride. This fierce rivalry often comes to the fore in the Gulf Cup and other regional tournaments, drawing significant attention from fans and media alike. Kuwait's early dominance in the 1970s and 1980s was marked by a string of successes, including winning the AFC Asian Cup in 1980 and becoming the first Arab nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 1982. Key players from this golden era, such as Jassem Yaqoub, Faisal Al-Dakhil, and Saad Al-Houti, were instrumental in Kuwait's regional and continental triumphs.

Saudi Arabia's rise to prominence began in the late 1980s and peaked in the 1990s, highlighted by their consecutive World Cup qualifications starting in 1994 and their three AFC Asian Cup victories in 1984, 1988, and 1996. Legendary players like Majed Abdullah, who is often regarded as one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time, and Sami Al-Jaber, a prolific striker with four World Cup appearances, played crucial roles in Saudi Arabia's footballing achievements.

Notable matches in this rivalry include the 1980 Gulf Cup final, where Kuwait defeated Saudi Arabia 3-1, showcasing their dominance at the time. Another significant encounter was the 1998 Gulf Cup, where Saudi Arabia emerged victorious, asserting their growing influence in regional football. The 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers also featured a dramatic showdown between the two teams, with Saudi Arabia securing a crucial 1-0 victory, thanks to a goal by Nawaf Al-Temyat, which helped them qualify for the World Cup.

Results and fixtures

Main articles: Kuwait national football team results and Kuwait national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2023

2024

2025

Coaching staff

Name Role
Head Coach Spain Juan Antonio Pizzi
Assistant Coach
Goalkeeper Coach Argentina Hernan Castellano
Fitness Coach Spain Alejandro Caro
Match Analyst
Team Doctor
Physiotherapist
Masseur
Sports Trainer
Technical Director

Coaching history

  • Egypt Ali Othman and Majid Mohammed (1955)
  • Egypt Ahmed Abu Taha (1957)
  • Poland Edmund Majowski (1957–1958)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ljubiša Broćić (1962, 1971–1973, 1973–1975)
  • United Arab Republic Saleh El Wahsh (1964)
  • Hungary Gyula Grosics (1966)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dimitri Tadić (1966–1969)
  • United Arab Republic Taha El-Doukhi (1970)
  • Kuwait Hassan Nasser (1973)
  • Brazil Mário Zagallo (1976–1978)
  • Kuwait Saleh Zakaria (1978, 1986, 2006–2007)
  • Brazil Carlos Alberto Parreira (1978–1982)
  • Brazil Antônio Lopes (1983–1985)
  • England Malcolm Allison (1985–1986)
  • Hungary György Mezey (1986–1987)
  • Brazil Antônio Vieira (1987–1988)
  • England George Armstrong (1988)
  • Brazil Otacílio Gonçalves (1989–1990)
  • Brazil Luiz Felipe Scolari (1990)
  • Kuwait Mohammed Karam (1990)
  • Brazil Valmir Louruz (1990–1992)
  • Brazil Paulo Campos (1992–1993)
  • Brazil Gildo Rodrigues (1993)
  • Kuwait Jawad Maqseed (1993)
  • Ukraine Valeriy Lobanovskyi (1993–1996)
  • Czech Republic Milan Máčala (1996–1999)
  • Czech Republic Dušan Uhrin (1999–2001)
  • Germany Berti Vogts (2001–2002)
  • Serbia and Montenegro Radojko Avramović (2002)
  • Brazil Paulo César Carpegiani (2003–2004)
  • Kuwait Mohammed Ebrahim Hajeyah (2004, 2005, 2008–2009)
  • Serbia and Montenegro Slobodan Pavković (2005)
  • Romania Mihai Stoichiță (2005–2006)
  • Croatia Rodion Gačanin (2007–2008)
  • Serbia Goran Tufegdžić (2009–2013)
  • Brazil Jorvan Vieira (2013–2014)
  • Tunisia Nabil Maâloul (2014–2015)
  • Serbia Boris Bunjak (2017)
  • Serbia Radojko Avramović (2018)
  • Croatia Romeo Jozak (2018–2019)
  • Kuwait Thamer Enad (2019–2020, 2021)
  • Spain Andres Carrasco (2020–2021)
  • Czech Republic Vítězslav Lavička (2022)
  • Portugal Rui Bento (2022–2024)
  • Spain Juan Antonio Pizzi (2024–)

Players

Current squad

The following 30 players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against  South Korea and  Jordan on 14 and 19 November 2024.

Caps and goals as of 19 November 2024, after the game against . Jordan

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Khaled Al-Rashidi (1987-04-20) 20 April 1987 (age 37) 27 0 Kuwait Al-Qadsia
1GK Abdulrahman Kameel (2001-03-08) 8 March 2001 (age 23) 9 0 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
22 1GK Ahmed Aid Al-Khaldi (1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 (age 35) 1 0 Kuwait Al-Fahaheel
23 1GK Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli (2001-03-23) 23 March 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Kuwait Al-Salmiya
5 2DF Fahad Al-Hajeri (1991-11-10) 10 November 1991 (age 33) 87 6 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
4 2DF Khalid El Ebrahim (1992-08-28) 28 August 1992 (age 32) 50 3 Kuwait Al-Qadsia
12 2DF Hamad Al-Harbi (1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 32) 37 0 Kuwait Kazma
2 2DF Sami Al-Sanea (1993-01-09) 9 January 1993 (age 31) 27 1 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
3 2DF Meshari Ghanem (1998-09-15) 15 September 1998 (age 26) 16 0 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
13 2DF Rashed Al-Dousari (2000-07-18) 18 July 2000 (age 24) 15 0 Kuwait Al-Qadsia
21 2DF Hassan Al-Enezi (2000-09-01) 1 September 2000 (age 24) 19 0 Kuwait Al-Arabi
16 2DF Muath Al-Dhefiri (1997-05-20) 20 May 1997 (age 27) 4 0 Kuwait Al-Qadsia
2DF Nasser Khader 0 0 Kuwait Al-Nasr
10 3MF Faisal Zayid (1991-10-09) 9 October 1991 (age 33) 64 7 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
8 3MF Ahmed Al-Dhefiri (1992-01-09) 9 January 1992 (age 32) 64 5 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
6 3MF Sultan Al-Enezi (1992-09-29) 29 September 1992 (age 32) 60 0 Oman Dhofar
11 3MF Eid Al-Rashidi (1999-05-25) 25 May 1999 (age 25) 45 3 Kuwait Al-Qadsia
3MF Redha Hani (1996-04-22) 22 April 1996 (age 28) 38 1 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
14 3MF Fawaz Ayedh (1997-02-21) 21 February 1997 (age 27) 29 1 Kuwait Al-Salmiya
18 3MF Athbi Shehab (1993-10-14) 14 October 1993 (age 31) 18 1 Kuwait Al-Qadsia
3MF Hussain Ashkanani (2002-01-26) 26 January 2002 (age 22) 6 0 Kuwait Al-Arabi
3MF Muath Al-Enezi (2003-07-16) 16 July 2003 (age 21) 5 0 Kuwait Al-Salmiya
19 3MF Abdelmohsen Al-Ajmi (1998-04-09) 9 April 1998 (age 26) 2 0 Kuwait Al-Fahaheel
20 4FW Yousef Nasser (1990-10-09) 9 October 1990 (age 34) 114 52 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
7 4FW Mohammad Daham (2000-02-17) 17 February 2000 (age 24) 18 5 Kuwait Al-Kuwait
17 4FW Ali Khalaf (1995-01-16) 16 January 1995 (age 29) 17 1 Kuwait Al-Arabi
9 4FW Salman Al-Awadhi (2001-05-21) 21 May 2001 (age 23) 11 0 Kuwait Al-Arabi
15 4FW Yousef Majed (2005-01-14) 14 January 2005 (age 19) 5 0 Kuwait Al-Arabi
4FW Montaser Al-Abdulsalam (2005-05-17) 17 May 2005 (age 19) 0 0 Kuwait Kazma
4FW Khaled Al-Kharqawi (2006-09-12) 12 September 2006 (age 18) 0 0 Kuwait Al-Kuwait

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Kuwait squad within the last twelve months.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Saud Al-Hoshan (2000-03-18) 18 March 2000 (age 24) 0 0 Kuwait Al-Kuwait v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]]; 15 October 2024
GK Sulaiman Abdulghafour (1991-02-26) 26 February 1991 (age 33) 46 0 Kuwait Al-Arabi v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]]; 15 October 2024
GK Abdulrahman Al-Majdali (2000-02-03) 3 February 2000 (age 24) 2 0 Kuwait Kazma v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
DF Mahdi Dashti (2001-10-26) 26 October 2001 (age 23) 13 0 Kuwait Al-Salmiya v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]]; 15 October 2024
DF Salman Bormeya (1992-07-25) 25 July 1992 (age 32) 5 0 Kuwait Al-Nasr v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]]; 15 October 2024
DF Khaled Al-Fadhli (2002-02-23) 23 February 2002 (age 22) 1 0 Kuwait Al-Qadsia v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]]; 15 October 2024
DF Hamad Al-Qallaf (1999-12-04) 4 December 1999 (age 25) 26 0 Kuwait Al-Arabi v.  Iraq; 10 September 2024
DF Abdulaziz Wadi (1998-12-06) 6 December 1998 (age 26) 5 0 Kuwait Al-Qadsia v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
DF Mohsen Ghareeb (2004-11-11) 11 November 2004 (age 20) 4 0 Kuwait Al-Kuwait v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
DF Youssef Al-Haqqan (2002-02-05) 5 February 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Kuwait Al-Qadsia v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
MF Talal Al-Ansari (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28) 0 0 Kuwait Al-Tadamon v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]]; 15 October 2024
MF Abdullah Al-Fahed (1997-02-12) 12 February 1997 (age 27) 14 0 Kuwait Kazma v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
MF Bader Al-Fadhel (1997-04-22) 22 April 1997 (age 27) 12 2 Kuwait Al-Arabi v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
MF Mohammad Al-Huwaidi (1999-01-29) 29 January 1999 (age 25) 4 0 Kuwait Al-Salmiya v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
MF Bandar Al Salamah (2002-10-28) 28 October 2002 (age 22) 8 0 Kuwait Al-Arabi v.  Uganda; 19 January 2024
MF Khaled Shaman Al-Mutairi (1996-08-14) 14 August 1996 (age 28) 2 0 Kuwait Kazma v.  Uganda; 19 January 2024
FW Mobarak Al-Faneeni (2000-01-21) 21 January 2000 (age 24) 33 5 Kuwait Al-Qadsia v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
FW Bandar Bouresli (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28) 6 0 Kuwait Kazma v.  Afghanistan; 11 June 2024
FW Ibrahim Kameel (2002-06-10) 10 June 2002 (age 22) 8 0 Kuwait Al-Kuwait v.  Qatar; 26 March 2024
FW Shabaib Al-Khaldi (1998-08-11) 11 August 1998 (age 26) 38 18 Kuwait Kazma v.  Uganda; 19 January 2024

PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Player has retired from international football.
SUS Suspended from the national team.

Previous squads

World Cup squads
  • 1982 FIFA World Cup squad
Asian Cup squads
  • 1972 AFC Asian Cup squad
  • 1976 AFC Asian Cup squad
  • 1980 AFC Asian Cup squad
  • 1984 AFC Asian Cup squad
  • 1988 AFC Asian Cup squad
  • 1996 AFC Asian Cup squad
  • 2000 AFC Asian Cup squad
  • 2004 AFC Asian Cup squad
  • 2011 AFC Asian Cup squad
  • 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad

Records

Players in bold are still active with Kuwait.

Most appearances

Bader Al-Mutwa
Bader Al-Mutawa is Kuwait's most capped player with 196 appearances.
Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Bader Al-Mutawa 196 56 2003–2022
2 Waleed Ali 136 8 2002–2014
3 Bashar Abdullah 134 75 1996–2007
4 Musaed Neda 125 20 2002–2015
5 Nawaf Al-Khaldi 115 0 2000–2014
6 Yousef Nasser 113 52 2009–present
7 Jarah Al Ateeqi 112 4 2001–2013
8 Nohair Al-Shammari 109 2 1996–2009
Wael Sulaiman 109 16 1986–1996
10 Jamal Mubarak 107 9 1994–2004

Top goalscorers

Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Bashar Abdullah 75 134 0.56 1996–2007
2 Jassem Al Houwaidi 63 83 0.76 1992–2003
3 Bader Al-Mutawa 56 196 0.29 2003–2022
4 Yousef Nasser 52 113 0.46 2009–present
5 Faisal Al-Dakhil 46 97 0.47 1974–1988
6 Jasem Yaqoub 36 49 0.73 1972–1982
7 Faraj Laheeb 23 45 0.51 1998–2008
8 Yussef Al-Suwayed 21 61 0.34 1979–1990
9 Musaed Neda 20 125 0.16 2002–2015
10 Shabaib Al-Khaldi 18 38 0.47 2019–present

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

Main article: Kuwait at the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1962 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
1966 to 1970 Did not enter Did not enter
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 6 1 1 4 4 8
Argentina 1978 12 8 1 3 23 10
Spain 1982 First group stage 21st 3 0 1 2 2 6 9 7 1 1 20 6
Mexico 1986 Did not qualify 4 2 1 1 8 2
Italy 1990 4 3 0 1 6 3
United States 1994 6 3 2 1 21 4
France 1998 12 6 2 4 17 9
South Korea Japan 2002 6 4 1 1 9 3
Germany 2006 12 6 1 5 19 15
South Africa 2010 6 1 1 4 8 12
Brazil 2014 8 4 2 2 13 10
Russia 2018 Disqualified due to FIFA suspension 8 3 1 4 12 10
Qatar 2022 Did not qualify 8 4 2 2 19 7
Canada Mexico United States 2026 Qualification in progress 7 2 2 3 7 7
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 TBD
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total First group stage 1/15 3 0 1 2 2 6 108 54 18 36 186 106

AFC Asian Cup

Main article: Kuwait at the AFC Asian Cup
AFC Asian Cup record AFC Asian Cup qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Hong Kong 1956 Not a AFC member Not a AFC member
South Korea 1960
Israel 1964
Iran 1968 Withdrew Withdrew
Thailand 1972 Group stage 5th 3 2 0 1 4 5 5 2 2 1 6 4
Iran 1976 Runners-up 2nd 4 3 0 1 6 3 Qualified by default
Kuwait 1980 Champions 1st 6 4 1 1 13 6 Qualified as hosts
Singapore 1984 Third place 3rd 6 2 2 2 5 4 Qualified as defending champions
Qatar 1988 Group stage 7th 4 0 3 1 2 3 4 3 1 0 9 0
Japan 1992 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 4 3
United Arab Emirates 1996 Fourth place 4th 6 2 2 2 9 7 4 2 2 0 9 5
Lebanon 2000 Quarter-finals 6th 4 1 2 1 3 3 4 4 0 0 33 1
China 2004 Group stage 10th 3 1 0 2 3 7 6 5 1 0 17 5
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Vietnam 2007 Did not qualify 4 1 1 2 3 4
Qatar 2011 Group stage 14th 3 0 0 3 1 7 6 2 3 1 6 5
Australia 2015 15th 3 0 0 3 1 6 6 2 3 1 10 7
United Arab Emirates 2019 Disqualified due to FIFA suspension 8 3 1 4 12 10
Qatar 2023 Did not qualify 11 5 2 4 24 13
Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualified 6 2 1 3 6 6
Total Best: Champions 11/19 42 15 10 17 47 51 66 32 17 17 139 63
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
**Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won. Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Olympic Games

Olympic Games record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA
France 1900 to Australia 1956 Did not enter
Italy 1960 to Canada 1976 Did not qualify
Soviet Union 1980 Quarter-finals 4 1 2 1 5 4
United States 1984 to South Korea 1988 Did not qualify
1992–present See Kuwait national under-23 football team
Total Best: Quarter-finals 4 1 2 1 5 4

Asian Games

Asian Games record
Year Result Pld W D L GF GA
India 1951 to Thailand 1970 Did not enter
Iran 1974 6th place 5 3 0 2 12 8
Thailand 1978 5th place 6 3 1 2 13 8
India 1982 Runners-up 6 5 0 1 13 5
South Korea 1986 Third place 7 5 2 0 20 3
China 1990 7th place 4 1 1 2 3 4
Japan 1994 Third place 6 4 1 1 15 6
Thailand 1998 Runners-up 8 3 2 3 23 8
2002–present See Kuwait national under-23 football team
Total 7/13 42 24 7 11 99 42

WAFF Championship

West Asian Football Federation Championship record
Year Result Pld W D L GF GA GD
Jordan 2000 Did not participate
Syria 2002
Iran 2004
Jordan 2007
Iran 2008
Jordan 2010 Champions 4 2 2 0 7 5 +2
Kuwait 2012 Group stage 3 2 0 1 4 4 0
Qatar 2014 Fourth place 4 1 1 2 3 5 –2
Iraq 2019 Group stage 3 1 1 1 3 3 0
United Arab Emirates 2023 Qualified
Total 4/9 14 6 4 4 17 17 0

Arabian Gulf Cup

Year Host Country Result Pld W D L GF GA
1970  Bahrain Champions 3 3 0 0 10 4
1972  Saudi Arabia Champions 3 2 1 0 14 2
1974  Kuwait Champions 4 4 0 0 16 0
1976  Qatar Champions 7 5 2 0 26 7
1979  Iraq Runners-up 6 4 1 1 15 4
1982  UAE Champions 5 4 0 1 8 2
1984  Oman Sixth place 6 1 2 3 4 8
1986  Bahrain Champions 6 5 1 0 11 4
1988  Saudi Arabia Fifth place 6 1 2 3 3 4
1990  Kuwait Champions 4 3 1 0 10 2
1992  Qatar Fifth place 5 2 0 3 5 8
1994  UAE Fifth place 5 1 1 3 2 6
1996  Oman Champions 5 4 0 1 7 4
1998  Bahrain Champions 5 4 0 1 18 5
2002  Saudi Arabia Fourth place 5 1 2 2 4 6
2003-04  Kuwait Sixth place 6 1 2 3 6 9
2004  Qatar Fourth place 5 2 1 2 7 7
2007  UAE Group stage 3 0 1 2 4 6
2009  Oman Semi-finals 4 1 2 1 2 2
2010  Yemen Champions 5 3 2 0 7 2
2013  Bahrain Third place 5 3 0 2 9 3
2014  Saudi Arabia Group stage 3 1 1 1 3 7
2017-18  Kuwait Group stage 3 0 1 2 1 3
2019  Qatar Group stage 3 1 0 2 6 7
2023  Iraq Group stage 3 1 1 1 2 3
2024-25  Kuwait Qualified
Total 25/25 Best: Champions 115 57 24 34 200 115

Arab Games

Arab Games record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA
1953–1957 Did not enter
Morocco 1961 6th 5 0 1 4 3 18
1965–1985 Did not enter
Lebanon 1997 Fourth place 5 2 0 3 8 9
1999–2007 Did not enter
Qatar 2011 Third place 4 3 0 1 7 2
Total 3/10 14 5 1 8 18 29

FIFA Arab Cup

FIFA Arab Cup record
Year Result Pld W D L GF GA
Lebanon 1963 Fourth place 4 1 0 3 5 15
Kuwait 1964 Third place 4 1 1 2 5 5
Iraq 1966 Group stage 4 0 2 2 8 1
Saudi Arabia 1985 Did not enter
Jordan 1988 Group stage 4 1 1 2 2 3
Syria 1992 Third place 4 2 0 2 6 5
Qatar 1998 Third place 4 3 0 1 13 4
Kuwait 2002 Group stage 4 1 2 1 6 6
Saudi Arabia 2012 Group stage 2 1 0 1 2 4
Qatar 2021 Did not qualify
Total Best: Third place 30 10 6 14 47 43

Head-to-head record

The following table shows Kuwait's all-time international record, after match against  Jordan       Positive Record       Neutral Record       Negative Record

All friendly and international matches have been approved, except for Olympic matches. A-level matches

Kuwait national football team head-to-head records
Opponent
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Afghanistan 3 3 0 0 8 2 +6
 Algeria 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Armenia 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
 Australia 14 5 2 7 12 22 -10
 Azerbaijan 2 0 2 0 2 2 0
 Bahrain 50 22 13 15 70 48 +22
 Bangladesh 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6
 Bhutan 1 1 0 0 20 0 +20
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1
 Brazil 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4
 Bulgaria 5 0 3 2 6 9 -3
 Cambodia 1 0 0 1 0 4 -4
 Cameroon 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2
 China 19 5 5 9 16 26 -10
 Colombia 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2
 Cyprus 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 Czech Republic 2 0 0 2 1 9 -8
 Czechoslovakia 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 Ecuador 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3
 Egypt 13 1 7 5 10 23 -13
 England 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1
 Finland 7 2 2 3 5 6 -1
 France 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4
 Germany 1 0 0 1 0 7 -7
 East Germany 2 0 0 2 2 4 -2
 Hong Kong 7 6 1 0 18 4 +14
 Hungary 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1
 Iceland 7 1 4 2 3 4 -1
 India 7 2 3 2 19 8 +11
 Indonesia 7 2 3 2 12 8 +4
 Iran 29 7 9 13 28 36 -8
 Iraq 37 10 11 16 38 48 -10
 Ivory Coast 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2
 Japan 5 4 0 1 8 2 +6
 Jordan 30 10 13 7 40 33 +6
 Kazakhstan 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Kenya 1 1 0 0 5 0 +5
 North Korea 14 6 7 1 20 12 +8
 South Korea 24 8 3 13 21 33 -12
 Kyrgyzstan 5 3 1 1 11 5 +6
 Laos 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Latvia 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2
 Lebanon 31 15 10 6 50 31 +19
 Libya 9 3 3 3 12 15 -3
 Lithuania 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1
 Macau 2 2 0 0 18 1 +17
 Malaysia 13 9 2 2 32 8 +24
 Mali 3 3 0 0 14 4 +10
 Mauritania 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
 Mexico 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Mongolia 1 1 0 0 11 0 +11
 Morocco 6 0 2 4 5 14 -9
 Myanmar 6 3 0 3 18 12 +6
   Nepal 10 9 1 0 37 3 +34
 Niger 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
 New Zealand 4 2 1 1 7 8 -1
 Norway 3 1 2 0 4 3 +1
 Oman 32 12 10 10 47 31 +16
 Pakistan 4 4 0 0 10 0 +10
 [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]] 9 7 1 1 20 7 +13
 Philippines 4 4 0 0 9 2 +7
 Poland 2 0 1 1 1 3 -2
 Portugal 2 0 1 1 1 9 -8
 Qatar 41 18 5 17 56 47 +9
 Romania 2 0 1 1 1 2 -1
 Russia 2 0 0 2 0 3 -3
 Saudi Arabia 42 15 12 15 44 44 0
 Singapore 10 7 2 1 20 6 +14
 Sudan 2 3 0 0 3 1 +2
 Soviet Union 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1
 Syria 34 14 9 11 52 38 +14
 Chinese Taipei 3 3 0 0 21 1 +20
 Tajikistan 2 2 0 0 5 1 +4
 Thailand 11 7 0 4 29 17 +12
 Trinidad and Tobago 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 Tunisia 3 0 0 3 2 8 -6
 Turkmenistan 5 3 2 0 13 4 +9
 Uganda 2 0 1 1 1 3 -3
 United Arab Emirates 45 18 8 17 70 49 +21
 Uganda 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2
 United States 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2
 Uzbekistan 6 2 1 3 9 12 -3
 Vietnam 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1
 South Vietnam 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
 Wales 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
 Yemen 13 7 4 0 25 4 +21
 South Yemen 1 1 0 0 5 1 +4
 Zambia 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8
 Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
Total 687 286 175 222 1097 771 +325

Honours

Continental

  • AFC Asian Cup
    • Coppa Asia.svg Champions (1): 1980
    • Med 2.png Runners-up (1): 1976
    • Med 3.png Third place (1): 1984
  • Asian Games
    • Med 2.png Silver medal: 1982, 1998
    • Med 3.png Bronze medal: 1986, 1994

Regional

  • Arab Cup
    • Med 3.png Third place (3): 1964, 1992, 1998
  • Arab Games
    • Med 3.png Bronze medal (2): 1992, 2011
  • Arabian Gulf Cup
    • Med 1.png Champions (10): 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2010
    • Med 2.png Runners-up (1): 1979
    • Med 3.png Third place (1): 2013, 2002
  • West Asian Games
    • Med 1.png Gold medal (1): 2002
    • Med 3.png Bronze medal (1): 1997
  • WAFF Championship
    • Med 1.png Champions (1): 2010
  • SAFF Championship
    • Med 2.png Runners-up (1): 2023

Friendly

  • Focus International Cup
    • Med 1.png Champions (1): 2011
  • Merdeka Cup
    • Med 2.png Runners-up (1): 1973

Summary

Competition 1 2 3 Total
AFC Asian Cup 1 1 1 3
Asian Games 0 1 1 2
WAFF Championship 1 0 0 1
Arab Cup 0 0 3 3
Arabian Gulf Cup 10 1 1 12
West Asian Games 1 0 1 2
Arab Games 0 0 2 2
SAFF Championship 0 1 0 1
Total 13 4 9 26

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Kuwait para niños

kids search engine
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